MGM Hires Chris Brearton to Serve as COO

He previously represented the studio as a managing partner at Latham & Watkins.

Chris Brearton is joining Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as its new chief operating officer, reporting to chairman and CEO Gary Barber, who announced Brearton's appointment today.

Brearton, who will take up the post later this month, will oversee MGM’s business operations and its business development and strategic growth initiatives.

He comes to MGM from Latham & Watkins’ entertainment, sports and media practice where he has served as the managing partner of the firm’s Century City office since 2015. Before that, he was a partner at O’Melveny & Myers, and he began his career as a CPA in the information, communications and entertainment group of KPMG in Los Angeles.

For nearly 20 years, Brearton has represented MGM, and he has been involved in such deals as MGM’s acquisition of Hearst’s, Mark Burnett’s and Roma Downey’s interests in United Artists Media Group, its acquisition of EPIX and its joint venture with Annapurna Pictures.

“I’ve worked very closely with Chris for more than a decade on a myriad of deals. He has been my most trusted advisor during this period and I am thrilled he will be joining MGM,” Barber said in a statement. “Chris’ knowledge and expertise have been invaluable to the company. He brings an unmatched understanding and vision about the future of MGM, which makes his addition to our talented senior executive team as COO even more exciting.”

Brearton said, "MGM was my first client while I was at KPMG in 1992, so the company has always held a special place in my heart.' He added, "As I begin this new chapter of my career, I must thank Joe Calabrese and my colleagues at Latham & Watkins for years of guidance and support.They truly embody what it means for laywers to act as trusted advisors to their clients."